Pakistan fury over ‘US assault’

Pakistan has condemned an alleged raid by foreign troops based in Afghanistan which officials say killed at least 15 villagers in a north-west tribal area.

The South Waziristan raid would be the first ever ground assault into Pakistan by foreign forces from Afghanistan.

Pakistan says the raid was a violation of its sovereignty. On Thursday a US missile killed at least five people in nearby North Waziristan, officials say.

US-led and Nato forces have said they have no reports of any troop incursion.

But off the record, US military sources confirm that US commandoes carried out Wednesday’s raid against a suspected al-Qaeda target – and say it could signal a tougher approach to cross-border militancy.